"Tenjo-san, are you joining the Fusion Department?"
"Yes."
"Uh... alright, leave your name then."
"The Fusion Department will arrange a duel for you with other students who have signed up."
In the Dueling Hall of the academy, a girl in a blue uniform asked Tenjo Hikari two questions and wrote down his name after getting a confirmation.
At Duel Academy, different schools are distinguished by uniform colors, with "Osiris Red" having the lowest "status," wearing red uniforms and being the "poor students" of the school; the mid-tier being "Ra Yellow," considered above average students; and finally, the highest status is "Obelisk," students with blue uniforms, at the level of "excellent students."
The student responsible for recording in front of him wore a blue uniform, naturally making her an "excellent student," while Tenjo Hikari, with a yellow uniform, was a mid-tier student.
To be honest, Tenjo Hikari was quite surprised—he never imagined that the level of cards from his past self could still make him a "mid-tier student."
The girl recording looked at Tenjo Hikari with strange eyes, as if she were looking at a pervert or a lunatic.
This is also normal, as Duel Academy has a variety of activity clubs, and each student can choose according to their own preferences.
The "Fusion Department" used to be an activity club that many students would choose. However, ever since the possibility of other dimensions was discovered, some extreme fanatic factions developed a hatred and fear of "complex other summoning methods," thus forming the "Fusion Fanatic Supremacy" faction led by Akaba Leo.
The current Fusion Department has already become the headquarters of the "Fusion Army," so seeing a newcomer applying to join this activity club seems quite crazy to other average students.
Tenjo Hikari glanced around the venue, seeing only scattered Yellow Academy students, a few Red Academy students, and even one with jellyfish-like hair...
—It's Yuki Judai!
Didn't expect to see the original protagonist so early, it's quite exciting.
"Hey!! Good luck!!" Judai shouted enthusiastically upon seeing a student step onto the stage.
Although Yuki Judai is an unreasonably enthusiastic duelist who almost duels whenever he has cards, this is precisely the kind of match he won't participate in—although he loves fusion, he's not one to listen to "fusion is absolute, everything else is trash."
But given the chance to watch a duel, with his personality, he would definitely be there.
He may have already been watching for the entire day.
"Hey! Kid, stop looking around!" As Tenjo Hikari zoned out, his opponent was already impatient, "Hurry up and admit defeat; I can't wait to wear the purple uniform!"
On the side, in the spectator seats, some Blue Academy students were also shouting: "Hey Yuryu, hurry and show that Yellow Academy kid that the Ancient Gear Deck is only fitting for Obelisks to use!"
"Haha, no need for you to say!"
Tenjo Hikari raised an eyebrow.
Indeed, it seems that the vast majority of Fusion Department students are from Blue Academy, with very few Yellow and Red ones.
It looks like even fusion enthusiasts have some color prejudice.
"Duel!" "Duel!"
[Tenjo Hikari, LP: 4000]
[Yuryu, LP: 4000]
Both of their Duel Disks unfolded, drawing five cards as their starting hand.
"I'll take the first move!" the Blue Academy student shouted loudly, swiftly drawing a card.
Damn—he's breaking the rules—
Tenjo Hikari was about to shout this before he remembered that during the era of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, the player going first could still draw a card, so he quickly stopped himself.
But his opponent starting the draw with "I'll take the first move" caught Tenjo Hikari a bit off guard.
If taking the first move only requires shouting quickly, then he definitely needs to hone this skill so he can start first every time, how enjoyable would that be?
Yuryu finished drawing his card, looking at the cards in his hand with a grin: "Haha, you're finished."
"Activate the Spell Card, Fusion Sage!"
He showed a card from his hand with a fanatical smile: "This card lets me add a Fusion from my deck to my hand!"
"Getting a Fusion right at the start!"
"Haha, that Yellow kid is done for."
A group of Fusion Department students, already wearing purple uniforms, nodded and praised seeing Yuryu's play.
"A Yellow Academy student daring to participate in the Fusion Department selection, what an overestimation of ability!"
"The Ancient Gear Deck is only fitting for us Blue Academy to use!"
"Exactly, our professor is Professor Cronos!"
"Just because the professor got defeated by a Red Academy slacker, doesn't mean anyone can challenge our status!"
These people talked excitedly.
"Mamma mia..." In the front row of the spectator seats, the heavily made-up, blue-tail-coated Professor Cronos lowered his head upon hearing the students' chatter.
It makes sense; although he doesn't support the Fusion Department, its standard deck is "Ancient Gear," and as an expert on this deck, of course, he has to see which students want to use his deck.
But upon hearing such chatter, the image-conscious professor couldn't help showing an uncomfortable expression.
"Just watch the duel!" he muttered through gritted teeth, biting a handkerchief.
On the other side, Yuryu continued his move: "I Normal Summon Ancient Gear Knight!"
?
Tenjo Hikari was slightly stunned.
With Yuryu's move, an old robot made of steel, wielding a shield in its left hand and a gun in its right, suddenly emerged, becoming the first monster to be summoned in the book.
Ancient Gear Knight, LV 4, Earth Attribute, ATK 1800, Gemini.
"Ancient Gear?" Many Red and Yellow students in the stands showed confused expressions.
You already have the Ancient Gear Deck, so why participate in this selection duel?
Tenjo Hikari glanced to his right, at the Fusion Department students, who all had expressions of watching a spectacle, seemingly already certain of the outcome.
"A Normal Summon with an 1800 ATK monster! How amazing!" Judai shouted excitedly.
"Hmph, obtaining Fusion in the first turn and summoning a wall with 1800 ATK, Yuryu's first turn isn't bad!"
"With this, all he needs is to wait for other Fusion Materials."
"It's not in vain we lent our deck to a few Blue Academy students."
The Fusion Department students discussed excitedly, their voices loud as if fearing students from other academies wouldn't hear them.
"End turn," Yuryu said with an arrogant sneer.
Tenjo Hikari was dumbfounded.
The performance from his opponent was too much.
That's it?
"What's wrong? Are you scared?" Yuryu laughed heartily, "If you're scared, then surrender quickly! I'm telling you, Fusion isn't something just anyone can handle!"
Tenjo Hikari raised an eyebrow, subtly curling his lips.
Tch.
What a weak first turn.
No resistance, only a front line with 1800 ATK... even Axe King wouldn't attack without a back line set.
If you set Sakuretsu Armor, I'd consider you made an effort!
He shook his head lightly: "Classmate."
"What?"
"In my long academic life, I've realized one thing."
"?"
"The more people pursue Fusion, the less they understand it. Because people will always want to gather Fusion Materials. Just like you."
"Obtained Fusion, but could only keep it in your hand, then normally summoned a monster! With that, how are you qualified to join the Fusion Army?"
"Fusion should be the noblest form of summoning; any extra move is disrespectful to Fusion!"
"What!?"
Not only Yuryu, but even some Fusion Department students were stunned hearing Tenjo Hikari's words, some couldn't help but rub their ears, doubting what they heard.
The guys just advocate Fusion, but you're genuinely crazy!
"My turn, draw—"
Looking at his hand, he felt a slight twitch on his lips.
Damn, six Spell Cards.
In any other situation, he would've had to pass, but fortunately, he's not playing "Master Duel."
He revealed a hint of a cold smile on his face, looked straight ahead, and shouted, "Fusion Summon, the noblest form of summoning!"
"So, all you need is Fusion!!"
"I pay 1000 LP to activate the Fusion Spell Card, Ready Fusion!"
"From the Extra Deck, Special Summon a non-effect Fusion Monster below six stars as a Fusion Summon!"
"Come, Fusion Summon, Bracchio-raidus!"
With his shout, a blue dinosaur roared out from the Extra Deck, standing beside Tenjo Hikari.
Bracchio-raidus, LV 6, Water Attribute, ATK 2200. Fusion Monster.
"No, summoning without any Fusion Materials, direct Fusion?" Some widened their eyes, subconsciously wiping their eyes.
"Wow, amazing." Judai was thrilled seeing the directly special summoned Bracchio-raidus, "Wow, if HERO had such a card…"
All the students watching, whether uninterested in the Fusion Department or those lending cards to test students like Yuryu, waiting to see students from other academies humiliated, or even Professor Cronos who had somewhat lost interest, were stunned by this move from Tenjo Hikari.
So... Fusion can also be played like this?